Former Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson; No plans for a return to coaching, for now – NBA News
Recently retired NBA legend Phil Jackson has closed the door on a return to the NBA, or has he? The former tactician who holds the honour of being the most decorated coach in the league’s history has taken
a few u-turns in his time, but seems to be holding strong on his decision of saying goodbye to the game for the final time.
“No,” said Phil Jackson when asked if he yearns for a return to coaching.
“I don’t,” added Jackson, though there is always a possibility he would change his mind. As he went on to explain, nothing is set in stone, and even though he might not want to coach again, that doesn’t mean
he wouldn’t want a return to the league.
“But that doesn’t mean I won’t. I don’t think I’ll coach again. I’d like to see if there’s another side of basketball, perhaps. If I’m back in full (health) activity at a level I want to be active at, I may
not even want to go back to coaching.”
For the time being though, Jackson is more concerned with his health, and with a number of things he wants to do that he never had time for while associated with the NBA.
“I may want to pick up where I wanted to go, maybe ride a motorcycle around the world, do something that’s much different,” Jackson said. “I don’t think I’ll ever run marathons. I don’t think I’ll ever be able
to do that again. But have the kind of activity I’d like to do. Fly fish and still be able to do some of the things I’d like to do.”
Jackson retired at the end of last season after an illustrious career in coaching. He had a total of 11 NBA World Championships to his name as a coach. The first three came with Michael Jordan and the Chicago
Bulls. After Michael retired, Jackson stayed on with the Bulls and on Jordan’s return coached the side to another three-peat.
Then came the Los Angeles Lakers era. Jackson was the man behind the Lakers dominance of the NBA scene at the start of this century. The super star duo of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant may have provided
all the flash for the Lakers, but it was Phil who made all the wheels turn.
His last couple of Championships came with the modern day Lakers side, with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. That group served him well until last season, when his grand journey in the NBA world came
to a disappointing end with a sweep by the Dallas Mavericks; Los Angeles sent crashing out of the playoffs.
Phil Jackson’s legacy though can never be swept aside, and there will be more than enough takers if he ever decides to coach in the NBA again.
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